Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
4th Utility vs Kinetic
Where 4th Utility and Kinetic differ
| Compare |  4th Utility |  Kinetic |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 2,300Higher | 2,000 |
| Price from | £13.99 | $19.99 |
| Reference plan prices | Full Fibre 1Gbps: GBP 10.00/mo for 4 months then GBP 23.00/mo, 1000Mbps, 24 months; Full Fibre 500Mbps: GBP 21.00/mo for 6 months then GBP 46.00/mo, 500Mbps, 24 months; Full Fibre 2.3Gbps: GBP 10.00/mo for 4 months then GBP 33.00/mo, 2300Mbps, 24 months | Fiber 100 Mbps: $19.99/mo, 100 Mbps, no contract; Fiber 1 Gig: $39.99/mo, 1000 Mbps, no contract; Fiber Max 2 Gig: $79.99/mo, 2000 Mbps, no contract |
| Setup fee | £0 | $0 |
| Mid-contract price rises | price rises each March in contract by GBP 4.00 | After Guarantee Period, relocation, change or suspension, rates subject to change |
| Address checker | https://4thutility.co.uk/ | https://www.gokinetic.com/locations |
| Markets | GB | US |
| Exit fee terms | Not confirmed | No termination fee on cancel |
| Router | Not confirmed | eero Pro 7 Wi-Fi 7 gateway |
| Static IP | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Social tariff | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Premises covered | Not confirmed | 1,900,000 |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Kinetic scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Top download speed (Mbps) is higher at 4th Utility: 2,300 vs 2,000.
- Support channels: only Kinetic offers Email.
- Contract length: only 4th Utility offers 12, 24.
- Markets: only 4th Utility offers GB.
- Markets: only Kinetic offers US.
Our verdict on each
4th Utility
4th Utility suits households inside its single UK market that want a full fibre line reaching 2,300 Mbps and no joining charge. Read the renewal figure before you commit, though: the entry price of £13.99 sits far below the ongoing cost, with the rule that price rises each March in contract by GBP 4.00.
Kinetic
Kinetic is a low-cost, month-to-month US fibre provider for households that want steady speeds without a long contract or an upfront charge. Entry pricing of $19.99 a month and a setup fee of $0 make it a strong pick, though the ceiling of 2,000 Mbps is modest for the busiest homes.
Score breakdown
| Area | 4th Utility | Kinetic |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6Entry price £13.99 with a setup fee of £0, against the rule that price rises each March in contract by GBP 4.00. | 9.6Entry pricing of $19.99 a month, month to month terms, and a 13 place of 95 on price. |
| Offer | 9.1Speeds to 2,300 Mbps on fibre, a social tariff and contract terms of 1, 12 and 24. | 9.2HigherFibre to 2,000 Mbps, static IP available, and month to month terms on a Wi-Fi router. |
| Trust | 8.3Founded 2017 and based in GB, with support on phone, chat and help centre. | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | 4th Utility | Kinetic |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband providers | 43 of 124 | 28 of 124 |
| Full fibre providers | 29 of 107 | 15 of 107 |
| Broadband without a long contract | 18 of 46 | 8 of 46 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | 4th Utility | Kinetic |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for 4th Utility: 1. Additional countries for Kinetic: 1.
If neither fits
YouFibre has top download speed (mbps) at 8,000, against 2,300 for 4th Utility and 2,000 for Kinetic.
YouFibre reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | 4th Utility | Kinetic |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Fttp | Fttp |
| Contract length | 1, 12, 24Covers more | 1 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2017 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | 4th Utility | Kinetic | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 2,300above the median | 2,000above the median | 1,000 |
| Premises covered | Not confirmed | 1,900,000above the median | 1,700,000 |
Median across 116 listed providers.
Pros and cons
4th Utility
Pros
- Entry price £13.99 places 4th Utility at 9 of 95 on price from, close to the top of that ranking.
- The setup fee is £0, and the provider sits at 1 of 86 on that measure.
- Speeds of 2,300 Mbps on full fibre sit well above the median top speed of 1,000 Mbps.
Cons
- Contract prices move upward under the rule that price rises each March in contract by GBP 4.00, so a long term bills more the longer it runs.
- The listed reference plan prices open low and renew much higher, so the introductory months are the cheapest part of the deal.
- Service is limited to GB, so it is not an option for readers outside that market.
Kinetic
Pros
- Entry pricing of $19.99 a month puts full fibre within reach of tighter household budgets.
- The setup fee is $0, and Kinetic places 1 of 86 on that measure, so nothing is added at the point of order.
- Plans run on 1 month and No termination fee on cancel, so leaving is low friction.
Cons
- The top speed of 2,000 Mbps is well below the 10,000 Mbps listed by Abissnet, which matters for very heavy multi-user homes.
- Rates are subject to change after the guarantee period, and after a relocation, change or suspension, so the $19.99 entry rate is not fixed for the life of the account.
- Service runs in US only, so households elsewhere cannot buy at all.
Who each suits
4th Utility
Who it suits
- Households inside its single market that want an entry price of £13.99 with no setup charge.
- Heavy users who need 2,300 Mbps on a full fibre line for a shared home or working from home.
- People on low incomes looking for a social tariff, and buyers who want the choice of terms in 1, 12 and 24.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers outside the UK, since 4th Utility covers GB while EarthLink lists fttp, 5G and satellite and can reach homes fibre does not.
- Anyone chasing the biggest headline speed, because Abissnet advertises 10,000 Mbps against 4th Utility's 2,300 Mbps.
- Buyers who want a cable option, since Astound sells cable and fttp while 4th Utility is fibre only.
Kinetic
Who it suits
- Renters and short-stay households, since plans run on 1 month and No termination fee on cancel means little to unwind.
- Budget-first families who want fibre, with entry pricing at $19.99 and a setup fee of $0.
- Home workers who need a fixed address, as static IP is available on Kinetic lines.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone chasing the highest headline speeds: Abissnet lists 10,000 Mbps against Kinetic's 2,000 Mbps.
- Households outside US, where EarthLink's fttp, 5G and satellite options are worth a look.
- People who want cable as well as fibre, since Astound lists cable and fttp.
Country by country
| Country | 4th Utility | Kinetic |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
4th Utility
What is the cheapest way in to 4th Utility?+
The entry point is the social tariff at £13.99 a month, and the setup fee is £0, so joining does not carry a joining charge. The full fibre plans are sold separately and start at a higher rate, so the standard plans are the route for anyone not eligible for the social tariff.
Do 4th Utility prices stay the same after the first few months?+
Not on the full fibre plans. The listed reference plan prices open at a low introductory rate for a handful of months, then step up to a renewal rate for the rest of the term, with the entry level plan renewing highest in the range. Add the rule that price rises each March in contract by GBP 4.00 and the bill keeps climbing.
Kinetic
How much does Kinetic broadband cost?+
Kinetic's fibre line starts at $19.99 a month on the entry plan, with faster tiers priced above it and no joining charge, since the setup fee is $0. The published figure is the standing monthly rate for the plan rather than a limited introductory offer that later resets higher.
Is there a contract and a cancellation fee?+
Plans run on 1 month, so there is no long minimum term to serve out before moving. Cancelling is correspondingly simple: No termination fee on cancel. That combination makes Kinetic one of the easier providers to leave if the price or the speed stops matching what a household needs.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- 4th Utility vs toob
- 4th Utility vs Optimum
- 4th Utility vs Hyperoptic B2C
- 4th Utility vs Odido Thuis
- 4th Utility vs OiSTER
- 4th Utility vs RED by SFR
- Kinetic vs EarthLink
- Kinetic vs GOMO by Singtel
- Kinetic vs Zzoomm
- Kinetic vs Webafrica
- Kinetic vs hollandsnieuwe
- Kinetic vs Abissnet
- Kinetic vs Frontier Communications
- Kinetic vs YouFibre
- 4th Utility vs Astound
- Kinetic vs Budget Thuis Internet
- Kinetic vs Budget Energie
- Kinetic vs PremiumSIM
- Kinetic vs sim.de
- Kinetic vs Eni Plenitude
- Kinetic vs 1pBroadband
- Kinetic vs EE Store
- Kinetic vs Singtel
- Kinetic vs beeline
- Kinetic vs Homefi